To all whom it may concern



@einen tars getest fr,

BELUS'GALKINS AND VERANOUS CALKINS, OF VARYSBURG, NEW YORK.

Y Letters Patent No. 63,362, dared April 2, 1867.

" IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABE FENCE.

TO ALL' WHOM IT MAY CONOERN:

Beit known that we, BELUs CALKINs and VnnANoUs GnLnrNs, of Varysburg,Wyoming county, and `State of New York, have invented n certain new andimproved Portable Fence; and We do hereby declare that-fthe following isa full and` exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanyingdrawings, making a. part of this specification, in which-Figure I is a. side elevation of a Vportipnv ofpur improved fence.

Figure II is a transverse vertical section.

Figure III represents the same when folded up for transportation.

Figure IV is a side elevation of the same when extended and usedas a.low fence or hedge.

The nature of this invention consists, first, in the construction andcombination of a number of dat bars,v placed crosswise an equal numberof other bars, and each fastened at three points 0f intersection, insuch manner that the whole may be either folded up in a compact forni,convenient for transportation, or spread out to any desired length, (theheight decreasing as the length incrcases,) and set up and fastenedtothe ground in finy\"A convenient manner, so as to form a diamond-shapedlattice fence; second, in the construction, application, andV use of. asupporting fence brace, combined ofrtwo bars `or levers hinged togetherat the top, and straddling L, transversely over the top ofthe fence, thelower end of each `lever being hinged to a stake, which is driven intorthe ground zit an angleI to thc lever of about thirty degrees, more orless, or in such manner that the strain upon the stake will be at.v anangle suiiicient ,to prevent its being drawn out; third, in thecombination and arrangement of a number of short stakes, drivenpermanently into the ground, and a. top connecting-bar, with a foldinglattice fence, und transversely supporting brace bars or levers, in :tniannerto forni a. strong, cheap2V and durable portable fence.

-Iietters oi' like name and kin'd'refer to like parts in each 'of thelfigures. Y

A A-reprcsents a number of bars or slats of Wood one-halfof which, A, isplaced crosswise upon the other half, A, each half running parallel.Both are connected by'means'o' bolts, clinch nails, or in any otherconvenient and sufficiently durable manner, at the points where the barscross each other, as shown at C.. This constitutes Athe main part of ourimproved fence, which is built in sections, and each section muy befolded up, as representedin Fig: III, and-loaded upon a wagon andtransported from one iie-ld or place to another. It has one greatadvantage over `other lportable fences, which consists in` that itvmaybe easily and readily changed from a high to a low fence for use either'as a barn-yard fenccor a. vlow gar-den hedge, as may be desired ,i andl that it need not be divided, when taken apart, into a' great number ofpieces,which it requires a great deal of y er time and labor to puttogether. Each section maybe used as a high' or low fence by folding-'itup closer or` stretching it out farther, and the height decreasesinproportion as the length thereof is increased, so that it requires agreater number et' sections to build a high fence of n certain lengththan to erect a. low one. B B represent n number of short posts orstakesdriven permanently into the ground, projecting only a few inchesabove the surface. These posts forma foundation upon which the fence iserected, and secured as follohs: -I3 represent bars or planks placededgewise within a slot cut'in the posts B, forming a continuous line andconnecting the posts together. A section of' the` fence is tliei1unt`olded and placed upon the said planks. The lower ends of the bars orslutsl composing the fence .are either grooved or one may be madeshorter than its opposite neighbor, or they vmay be arrangedin anyother-convenient manner, so that the fence will rest firmly upon thesaid horizontal plank B. The next thing to be done is to brace the fencelaterally. This'we accomplish by means of 4the hinged brace-levers D Dand stakes E E', Fig. H. The bnr's 0r arms D are hinged together l andplaced one upon each side of the fence, the joint straddlingtransversely over' the top thereof. The other end of each brace-bar ishinged to the short stake E, which is driven into the ground severalfeet distant from li the lin-e of the fence at such relative positiontothe brace-arms and fence that the strain upeuthestake will be sidewiseor at an angle thereto, and hence renders it almost impossible to liftthe stake out of the ground. Both stakes ,upon either side of the fenceare driven into the ground suieiently to bring the levers D te bearheavily L l and firmly upon the top of the fence, and thereby preventany lateral movement thereof. A bar, F, may be laid on the top of thefence, the upper ends of the bars forming the same being either grooved,notched, or

otherwise formed, siinilarto their lower ends, for the purpose ofreceiving the bar F, and the latter may have a broad board or plank laidhorizontally upon and fastened to the edge thereof, so :is to cover thewhole and keep the fence in line. The foundation posts or stakes E, aswell os the brace-bars D, may be placed nt any distance apart to suitthe size and heft of the fence; and where great strength and durabilityare not an object, the top bar F, or the foundation stakes B, orbotl1,mny be entirely dispensed with, and yet the fence :is s Whole beset upA and answer its purpose satisfactorily.

What We claim-as our'invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is- 1. A portable fence made in sections, constructed in the manner andsubstantially :is herein described 2. The combination and arrangement ofthe hinged brame-bars D D, and stakes E E, forming u portable brace forfences, constructed and adjusted in the manner'substontinlly as hereinset forth. I

3. The combination and arrangement of the foundation posts B, foldingfence A top and bottom connecting-bars F and B', and adjustable braces DE, in the manner and substantially es herein described.

BELUS CALKINS, VERANOUS CALKINS. Witnesses:

F. A. LANGWORTHY, B. H. MUEHLE.

l LA

